Tracy Young :: The (M)DNA of "Genesis"

It's been another landmark year for superstar DJ Tracy Young. Depending on how you look at it, her annual, extra special New Year's Day party "Genesis" - still one of the hottest tickets of the season, could signal the close, or the incredible start for the music industry's top female DJ/remix producer. "I'm looking forward to 2013," she says. "I have a lot going on next year." Not that she has been sitting on her laurels during 2012 since Madonna has been keeping her aerobically charged...literally!

But more on Tracy and Madonna later. Right now Young has "Genesis" on her mind and is preparing to take her audience on yet another musical journey at South Beach's landmark destination Mansion.

This year is extra special, as it marks the 10th anniversary of the party's conception - marking the celebration as both thrilling and bittersweet. Young conceived of the New Year's spectacular 10 years ago with her friend and club promoter Vito Abate. His untimely passing almost convinced Young to discontinue "Genesis" altogether, but the thought of disappointing the legendary club promoter, reignited her. She found a new inspiration to keep the annual event on the calendar. "I could hear Vito telling me from heaven," she says, he said: "If you stop this party...I'll break your knee caps!" So "Genesis" must go on!

10 Year Re-"Genesis"!

For many on the club-party circuit "Genesis" has become a "must have" ticket. Over the years Young has mixed things up just to keep her guests and international followers on their toes. One New Year’s Day "Genesis" hit multiple time zones when Tracy wrapped her set in Miami then hopped on a jet to Vegas, to launch into a new venue alongside pop-goddess Kelly Rowland. "That took a lot out of me," she jovially reminded herself. "I couldn’t believe that at the end of that set I’d been up for more than 14 hours straight!"

She’s since learned her lesson, but not necessarily slowed her pace. "My idea [this year] is to bring it back to basics - keep it simple." Young has also taken into account what her fans look for as the circuit party dynamic changes with each generation of nightcrawlers taking over the scene. "I like keeping it interesting," she says having adding live performances or special guest appearances in the past, "but sometimes all the crowd wants is to hear me spin. They just want the music - it’s enough for them."

Tracy has always championed the ladies of the dance anthems and last year treated her audience to premiere hits with performances from Deborah Cox. "We’d worked on Deborah’s new single and wanted a really great way to introduce it." Young’s version of Cox’s "If It Wasn’t For Love" was a favorite on the club circuit, though perhaps it was overshadowed by her phenomenal turn on Britney Spears’ 2011 hit single "Hold It Against Me." Nicki Minaj had actually closed the New Year at Mansion, just as Tracy took to the turntables, for an incredible double-billing that elated the South Beach’s crowd.

"I don’t know if we’ll have a live performer this year at ’Genesis’," she cryptically admitted, "but you never know." She is promising to deliver yet another spectacle. "I’d like to keep it music-focused," she says. "I’ve had amazing light shows, great performers, (dancers hanging in the air) but ’Genesis’ is about the crowd. They feed me and I give it right back."

So this year’s "Genesis" will be not only appropriately celebrate the life and love of a great friend - "’Genesis’ meant as much to Vito as it did to me." - it will begin the next 10 years of Young’s club dominance.

Tracy’s World

And then there’s Madonna. Though in the midst of winding down from her MDNA World Tour, the "Once-Material" now "Mercurial Girl", has been keeping Tracy very busy. She was the music director/producer for the recently released line of Hard Candy Fitness workout DVDs featuring fitness guru Nicole Winhoffer that have been at the center of the promotion of Madonna’s international gyms. "It’s all original music." set to a dance-centric aerobic work out.

Tracy also took the opportunity to collaborate with Madonna’s label, Interscope Record, to host the only official MDNA Tour after-parties along major US stops, the most recent of which was in Miami, the last stateside performance before Madonna hit South America. "She’s one of my mentors," Young says about Madonna. Their relationship both personal and professional, goes back many years now, almost to Young’s early days in radio, before she took up the DJ circuit scene. "Madonna will always be relevant - she’s been on top of it for 30 years."

Not one to let any opportunity slip through her fingers, Young has not only been busy keeping up with Madonna, but also she’s just wrapped production and is ready to unleash her latest ferocious remix, for none other than the Queen of Queens: Cher.

"Without Cher, there would be no Madonna, and without Madonna there would be no Gaga," Tracy generously illustrates. Working with the music icon on her latest track "Woman’s World" was a unique experience for Young, who continued in her tradition of working with the music industry’s most indomitable female talent.

Top of Her Game

With all the competition on the circuit scene today, and fewer venues certainly stateside to conquer, Young stays one step ahead of the game by pushing herself beyond her own expectations and not worrying about what the next act is doing. "I want to be great every time I play," she admits. She’s not just concerned with being #1 but giving her best to the dance floor crowd. "I create a moment with every party, and with ’Genesis’ it’s even more special and that’s why people like this party. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The crowd doesn’t care about anything but getting their dance on."

Maintaining that level of popularity on the party scene is also why the consummate professional values the relationships she’s made across the world’s greatest dance floors. Young is grateful to established, recognized and respected club promoters including New York City’s own proprietors of the XL Nightclub John Blair and Beto Sutter. "I love those guys, especially because I love to collaborate," she says about working with XL’s team. "Every time I play I always imagine what we can do to make the party better." She’ll have another opportunity to reinvent herself when she makes a holiday appearance in New York City at XL on Saturday, Dec 22.

With 2013 turning into Tracy Young’s "Woman’s World of Wonder," the DC Darling with the infectious laugh-for-days and the hard candy charisma continues to spin the beats per minute from the heart. After all, it’s in her DNA.

Make 01.01.13 a calendar date to remember with DJ Tracy Young at Mansion on South Beach for the 10th Anniversary Event "Genesis". Goto Want Tickets to secure your place at the New Year’s Day part of the year presented by Ferosh Records and Mansion located at 1235 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach.

In the meantime catch DJ Tracy Young when she pops into New York City’s premiere nightclub XL on Saturday, Dec 22 in the main room - that’s how you kick off the holiday weekend!

Stay in the loop and keep up with DJ Tracy Young and visit her website at www.tracyyoung.com. Her latest release "To Find You" featuring Astrid Suryanto is on her label F Region Productions and is available for download on iTunes. Check out the incredible fireworks display captured at Miami’s Muscle Beach party set to the track.

Native New Yorker JC Alvarez is a pop-culture enthusiast and the nightlife chronicler of the club scene and its celebrity denizens from coast-to-coast. He is the on-air host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Out Loud & Live!" and is also on the panel of the local-access talk show "Talking About".